Monday, April 25, 2011

Thank you for joining us this week and we hope you enjoy hanging around. If you love m/m erotic and fantasy, you're in for a treat from the wonderful CJ Black. Come in, grab a drink and have a seat with us before the warm fire!

Tonya: CJ, welcome to my blog. My readers are anxious to learn what makes you tick! Tell us a bit about yourself.

CJ: I write erotic and fantasy fiction, usually male/male. I’m actually pretty new to the genre. Now don’t get me wrong, I wrote my first book at the tender age of five and started seeking publication at fourteen. I started writing mysteries and then fantasy which I found I enjoyed much better. My actual introduction into erotic fiction came when I discovered yaoi, which was quite by accident. A friend of mine gave me a DVD with some anime movies he’d burned onto it. He didn’t tell me at the time that one of the movies was the Fake Ova. Fake being a set of 7 yaoi manga written by Sanami Matoh. I highly recommend them. I was hooked from then on. I didn’t however write my first erotic story until I saw an ad for a contest where the first prize was $2000. I didn’t win but the publisher bought my story anyway. That was inspiration enough.

As to non-writing things, I’m an avid video-gamer, gardener and an amateur chef. I do the nine to five thing. I’m somewhat of a homebody. I worked very hard to buy my house and love spending time in it. It’s a haven away from all things noisy. Dorothy was right, after all.

Tonya: Congratulations for entering the contest! That's a great way to get your feet wet. Some of us have things we do to get into the writing frame of mind like music, or drinks. Do you have anything special you do to get into the writing mood?

CJ: Well something I recently started doing was going to Borders and taking my netbook with me. Then I get an Ultimate Toffee Mocha, find myself a quiet spot and its surprising how much I get done. I’ve always wanted to do something like that. It was a small thing and many people do it everyday but for me, it was a special little something that I’ve come to enjoy doing. When I can’t get out, I usually have some music or streaming video in the background depending on what I’m writing. If I’m writing fantasy, I’ll have something New Age on or I’ll put on a fantasy anime program.

Tonya: Is it easy for you to push the envelope when writing?

CJ: At times, yes. I sometimes get into these “zones” where I write straight through a scene without stopping. I’ve heard a term for it, deep play. I like to go as far as I can with the characters and the situations I place them in. I’ve often thought, the more I put my characters through, the more I love them.

Tonya: I love it when I'm so into writing that it just flows! Do you have a card file where you keep story ideas? Where do they come from?

CJ: Not a card file but a Word file. And that’s the age old question isn’t it? They come from all over the place. Sometimes from places and people I encounter everyday. Sometimes from incidents in my life. At times, it can be from something as simple as a word, sound that I hear or picture that I see. And at times, from actual dreams. That’s right, I’ve gotten some good ideas from my dreams. A friend of mine calls it dream-storming.

Tonya: I can't say that I dream about my books; that just doesn't happen for me. Tell us about a day in your life as a writer.

CJ: Well my writing days never just go all the way through like a work day. Although I wish it were like that, it can be very sporadic. Back in the day, I used to get up early before work and write for an hour, then when I came home I would write from six to ten then treat myself by surfing the net. There have been many changes in my life both writing and personal that sometimes makes it hard for me to sit down and write at all. Sometimes, as previously mentioned, getting out of the house helps or sitting out in my garden.

Tonya: Are you a daytime writer, night time writer, and do you have to be alone to write?

CJ: I write early morning and late evening usually. I do the day job thing but at one point I had two jobs. It was difficult to find time then. Now I went back to one and work in the afternoon. I’m usually too anxious about getting to work in the morning but I try to write for a few hours then and since I’m too keyed when I come home in the evening to sleep right away so I write. Most writing however is reserved for my weekend.

Tonya: When we have a day job, most of us have to use our weekends to write. Do you have critique partners or ever been in a critique group? What was the best thing you learned from a critique?

CJ: I don’t have a steady critique partner but I’m not averse to finding one. I have a friend who reads over my work when he has the time but he’s an artist/writer himself and has to concentrate on his own work. But he’s very honest which I always appreciate, although I like to mess with him about it. J I have tried critique groups in the past and one of them was very helpful in getting a novel I was writing edited. The best thing I learned? Develop your own style of writing and don’t listen when someone tells you to “copy the style of the latest successful author”.

Tonya: Oh, for sure. Find your own style and improve on that. Do you write better when you first have an idea of what your characters look like or do you write, then add character looks?

CJ: Actually, it goes both ways. Sometimes I’ll see a guy on the street and I’ll think, ‘ok, he’s going into a story’. Other times, I may see or hear a name and then perhaps build my story around it.

Tonya: Do you always include HEA and is that type of ending important to you?

CJ: No, not always. I’ve done HFN because life is seldom HEA. We can only hope to work for that HEA ending and deal with what comes along in the future. So no, it’s not important to always have one. I actually wrote a story back in the day with a sad ending. This was before HFN endings were commonly used and the editor in question wrote me this sarcastic rejection letter stating that readers only preferred HEA and how dare I have the characters suffer a disappointment? It’s called life.

Tonya: I love the HEA but we know that isn't the case in all books. Where can our readers find you and your books?

CJ: I’m pretty much all over the place. You name a networking site and I’m there or will be in the near future. Here are some of the places you can find me for starters:

I’m currently working on the sequel to Illusion of Night and will probably have a title contest with a free copy of the book as the prize so watch for that! I also have a few other irons in the fire. I finally started re-writing a book that I lost back in August ’10 when my system crashed called Blade and Thorn. It’s in the same universe as Illusion of Night.

Tonya: Readers, please take the time to visit CJ's links and find yourself a few new reads! CJ, is there anything else you want to tell our readers?

CJ: Yes, read as often as possible and enjoy! Choose your material on its merits and the skill and style of the writer. There are a lot of very talented e-book and indie writers out there. Give them a chance. Oh yes, and I love to hear from my readers so feel free to drop me a line or chat me up anytime! I promise to respond as soon as I can. Nothing annoys me more than an unanswered e-mail!I'm also having a contest for winner's choice of one of my back list. Please leave your email in the comment so I can reach you. The drawing will be held on Saturday, the 30th so be sure to comment to be in the drawing!

Tonya: CJ, thank you so much for being here with us! We love learning more about the authors we enjoy reading! Readers, thank all of you for joining us and leave a comment for CJ to be in the contest on Saturday. We'll be here all week to chat with you. Thank you again!

Monday, April 18, 2011

As you can see, I've decided on the cover to book three. This is the final cover and wanted to let you peek at it and get your opinion. Feel free to leave your comments because I want to know what you think.

Book three is spinning around in my head because I've not had time to sit and write due to the day job but later this week that will pretty much end, at least the stressful part of the job, so I can get this all into the manuscript for you! Can Sondra handle being in the hands of another Master even for a short time? Will he reach her inner submissive needs and bring her closer to being who she craves to be? Nick thinks it will be a good move for His pet although this certainly is not relinquishing His ownership by any means! Stop back often to see what's in store for my little office vixen! *wink*

I've uploaded a revised version of book two at Smashwords and added to it! The revised version should be available late on the 25th. It's only $1.99 - Enjoy!

I love that you keep stopping in to see what's going on, whether it's interest in the site, my books, my author interviews I post for you or some juicy gossip, I'm just glad you stop in!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Tonya: Thank you for stopping in to meet another new erotic romance author to add to your TBR listings. Grab a drink from the bar then come sit by the fire with us. Sable, I’m so excited to have you here this week. I must say, I love your website! It’s gorgeous! Now tell us a bit about yourself.

Sable: Thanks so much for having me Tonya! I’m so glad to get a chance to chat with the readers! Hi readers! *waving* About me, hmm… You know, you never realize how hard that is to answer until someone asks. Gotta go with my standard on this one: Tattooed vixen, wicked humorist, incurable humanist, and proud geek! Oh, and I write smut, too. *giggles*

Tonya: Some of us have things we do to get into the writing frame of mind like music, or drinks. Do you have anything special you do to get into the writing mood?

Sable: Nothing specific to get into the mood, I’m always in the mood. ;) It’s finding the time to stay in said mood that’s the problem. But I do listen to music while I’m writing. Lately I’ve been on a jazz kick with a little hip-hop and rock thrown in for good measure. Once a story really gets going it picks its own soundtrack, though. Aside from that, having chocolate and candy close by isn’t frowned upon. I can write without it, but why deprive myself?

Tonya: I hear you on the chocolate! I always have some hidden somewhere! Do you like pushing the envelope when writing?

Sable: You know, I’m trying to do that more lately. I just finished a novelette called The Doxy’s Daybook: A Friday in Two Acts that I absolutely love (look for it this summer!) It’s told entirely from the perspective of a prosti —er— doxy named Roz. That one ripped the envelope and tossed it to the wind, which is fine by me. I think my future work will benefit from it.

Tonya: Do you have a card file where you keep story ideas? Where do they come from?

Sable: I keep a general synopsis for every idea on a jump drive and also on a notepad (technology has a way of misplacing things) but they never really leave my mind once I think of them. They just sort of roam around up there amidst the flotsam while I sort them out enough to start writing.

The majority of my ideas just show up in my head, but I do have some that come from rather strange situations. A current WIP started because my crit partner and I were contemplating euphemisms for manly bits and out of nowhere she offers—straight-faced mind you— “sword of hope and destruction?” Couldn’t stop laughing, and in a flash I had a new character and a concept for a new book.

Tonya: Crit partners are so good for us! Tell us about a day in your life as a writer.

Sable: Oh, that’s easy. It goes very much like this: “I need to finish the scene where” —SOMEONE ELSE’S CRISIS— “and then the part about” —SOMEONE ELSE’S CRISIS —Repeat…repeat…*sigh*…repeat. And then around midnight I get to knock out a couple thousand words.

Tonya: Sometimes we do have to deal with other people and family ‘crisis’ but we always find time for us. Are you a daytime writer, nighttime writer, and do you have to be alone to write?

Sable: I’ll steal time no matter day or night. I even talk into a voice recorder while I’m driving (alone…well, with the muse) if the word faucet starts flowing. But I can usually be found in my dungeon typing away happily between midnight and 4am. It seems those are the only hours where everyone is asleep long enough for me to get some real work done. Being alone isn’t a necessity to write, I just have to tune everyone out. I’m remarkably good at ignoring people…like scary good. *wink*

Tonya: Do you have critique partners or ever been in a critique group? What was the best thing you learned from a critique?

Sable: Yes, I have a couple and I absolutely adore them! They’re very blunt, which I appreciate. Best thing one ever told me about sex scenes was “You’re holding back like you’ve got your mom looking over your shoulder. Tell her to shut up and go watch Lifetime.” If I get my pages back with “Lifetime” in the margins, I know exactly what to do!

Tonya: Crit partners have to be honest with us so we continually improve our writing. Do you intentionally give your characters flaws so the reader might relate to them better?

Sable: It might be a sure sign of insanity, but the characters really do tell me what flaws they have. They’re honest, and pushy, that way. (Is it an equally scary sign that I’m blaming them? Hmm…) I scrapped a book that I’d worked on a couple months because I kept trying to force my heroine into this sticky-sweet nice girl role and she wasn’t having it. We’ve since started again, and she’s threatened bodily harm if I don’t get her right this time, so…

Tonya: How about an excerpt from Different Shades of Gray?

Sable: I’d love to share and whet their appetites! *wicked laugh*

Here’s the buy Link for Different Shades of Gray from eXcessica: http://bit.ly/e0dMPQ

Here’s the Blurb from DIFFERENT SHADES OF GRAY:

A set of twins, one rich bachelor, a reality show and a favor…

When aspiring model Charlene Roberts is running late for an audition, she begs her reliable sister to stand in for her at the casting for the reality show Free Money. Of course Charlotte, a.k.a. Charlie, can’t say no. She could never say no to Charlene, whose agent believes a television appearance will boost her modeling career. Free Money is much like all contemporary dating shows: twenty hot women living in a mansion doing everything they can to catch the eye of one filthy-rich bachelor.

And that bachelor is the media’s favorite bad boy, the insanely sexy Jake Logan. The thirty-something business tycoon only wants one thing—to get his parents to stop meddling in his love life. What better way than to be trapped in a house with gorgeous women for two months, right? He’s already done the relationship thing, and has no intention of doing it again. That is, until he meets Charlie…who he thinks is a model named Charlene.

Knowing how important this opportunity is for her sister’s career, Charlie denies her feelings for Jake, because at some point she’ll have to walk away from what could be the love of her life.

Excerpt from DIFFERENT SHADES OF GRAY:

“Mmmm. This is so good, Logan,” I said, savoring the first bite.

“I really like the way you say my name.”

“Jake?” I squeaked around the bite of food.

He shook his head then turned his body toward me completely, resting one foot on the bottom rung of my stool. “Logan. It rolls off your tongue like honey, like you enjoy saying it. Do you?”

I stared into his eyes, watching as his pupils started dilating. Medically speaking this could mean any number of things. Maybe he was having a response to some sort of external stressor, or that the room was darkening, although neither of us had turned off the lights. Or, it could mean he was aroused. Bingo. I dropped my eyes to the pulse point in his throat, noting the erratic throbbing, and dragged my peepers up in time to catch him licking his lips. The notion that I was turning this man on was turning me on, and adrenaline shot through my body in time with the alarms going off in my head. I needed to pull away fast. But try as I might, I couldn’t. Or wouldn’t.

“You always this forward, Logan?” I purred, unable to resist.

His lids lowered to half-mast, and he licked his lips again as if hearing me say his name was giving him the best ear-gasm ever.

“I won’t forget that you didn’t answer the question, and I told you before, when I know what I want I go after it-”

“And you get it with frightening consistency,” I finished. “So what exactly is it you want?”

“You.”

“How?” My mouth moves faster than my brain sometimes. The way it was intended was not the way it was interpreted.

“Any way you’ll let me,” he retorted silkily, that easy grin returning to his face.

I playfully slapped his thigh, cutting my eyes at him. “That’s not the way I meant that and you know it. I mean in what capacity? Just friends? Friends with benefits? Or something more? Cause I’m here for something more.”

He didn’t respond, so I continued in a rush.

“We did just meet, and I can’t imagine you’ve developed any serious feelings for me in less than a day. So, how and why, Jake?” I really hated doing that. Making a man think when all the blood was flowing away from his brain wasn’t exactly fair. But I had the feeling any second now we’d be on this countertop doing all the things I wanted him to do to me, and then Char would be screwed. Well I’d be screwed, but you know what I mean.

Our eyes locked, deep brown to ice gray, each watching as lust built in the other, when Nicole rounded the corner and entered the kitchen. We both promptly returned to our omelets like teenagers caught making out under the bleachers.

“Good morning, Jake,” she chirped as she came around the island, ignoring me completely. “How’d you sleep, baby?”

I chuckled under my breath and Jake poked me in the side, chewing furiously to keep from laughing.

“Omelets?” she asked, looking at our plates. “You cook, Charlene?”

“Actually, Jake made these, and the mimosas.” I can’t lie. I got some satisfaction out of that. “They’re really good, too.” I never skimp on the frosting.

Nicole poked her lip out into a pout. “Can I have some of yours, baby?” she whined, hugging him from behind and dropping her head on his shoulder. Then she cringed and backed away quickly, her voice returning to normal. “Why are you damp and sticky?”

“Not for the reasons I was hoping,” he mumbled.

I nearly choked on my omelet.

“I didn’t get to shower after my run. Which reminds me about my earlier offer, Charlene,” he said the lust still simmering in his eyes.

“Answers first, Jake.” Finishing my food and downing the drink, I pushed myself off the barstool and carried my dishes to the sink.

Nicole started jabbering away as I cleaned up. Things were starting to get complicated. When Char came in a few days she’d be embroiled in a full-blown physical relationship if I weren’t careful. I pushed away a feeling of melancholy and refocused my attention on the reason I was here.

This is Charlene’s thing, Charlie. You’re just a stand-in for the next couple days. Anything you feel for Jake is a fabrication for Char’s sake. Okay? Okay? Okay.

Nicole came over and dumped Jake’s dishes in the sink causing the soapy water to splash up my arms, and then went back to chatting him up. The girl was purposefully grating on my nerves, but I refuse to let her see me bothered. I’d get my own back. I finished the dishes, drained the water and dried my hands.

Leaving the sink I went behind Jake, dropping a quick kiss on his neck and interrupting his boredom, said a quick, “Thanks for breakfast,” and headed out of the kitchen.

“You never answered my question, Charlene,” he called after me, stopping me in my tracks. “Do you enjoy it?”

He asked that loaded question in a neutral tone that belied its origin. I glanced at Nicole who looked upset that I’d taken his attention and that she was once again out of the loop. Pleased, I turned back to Jake, seeing that same intensity in his eyes. “Yeah, Logan. I enjoy it.”

I wasn’t lying.

Tonya: Great excerpt. Readers, book mark her links! Can you tell us about your tagline?

Sable: I’m no branding guru, but if there’s one thing I’m amped about it’s my tagline: Stories so whet, you’ll want to Lick My Ink! I love, love, love it! Hits on everything I write about while still being a reflection of me. I’m really into body ink and I’ve got a tattoo or two (all right, more than two, but don’t tell anyone), and I write stimulating stories. I was shaky about people not getting it, but then a few e-mails came in from other authors who said they loved it and wished they’d thought of it first! Plus it makes a cool hashtag on twitter: #LickMyInk.

Tonya: Where can our readers find you and your books?

Sable: Different Shades of Gray is out through Excessica as is a second release, If It Isn’t Love, which will be out later this year. The Doxy’s Daybook is scheduled for summer and will be available through Smashwords. My website has lots of excerpts from my unreleased works, and synopses from my WIPs. You can also find me on Amazon, B&N, and All Romance Ebooks. But if you want to catch some of my zany on a more regular basis, find me on my blog, Dripping Whet Ink.

Tonya: Thanks so much for joining us all this week and for being around to comment with readers! Is there anything else you want to tell our readers?

Sable: Tonya, thanks again for having me, and thanks to all the readers for stopping by to Lick my Ink! I had a blast! Now, for the e-Book giveaway of Different Shades of Gray. Let’s do a question: Boxers, briefs, or commando on your man? Leave your answer in the comments and I’ll pick a winner on Friday!

By the way, we authors love hearing from readers. And I like to talk about a wide variety of things: romance, music, fast cars and slow guys, what happened on the Amazing Race, whatever! Drop some ink on my blog or website, or hit me up on Facebook and Twitter. Search for Sable Jordan and let the tats be your guide. *wink*

Don't forget to leave your answer to the above question from Sable IN YOUR COMMENT - pls include your email addy (at yahoo.com?) so she can get in touch with you! (I also have a POLL up on the right - answer there, too!)

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